Miss Earth 2003, the 3rd edition of the
Miss Earth pageant, was held on November 9, 2003, at the
University of the Philippines Theater in
Quezon City, Philippines.[1][2][3] Fifty-seven delegates from all over the globe participated in the event.[4][5] The pageant was broadcast live via
ABS-CBN in the Philippines and to many countries worldwide via
Star World,
The Filipino Channel and other partner networks.[6][7][8]Winfred Omwakwe from Kenya crowned her successor
Dania Prince of Honduras the end of the event.[9] Brazil's Pricila Zandona was selected Miss Air 2003, Costa Rica's Marianela Zeledon Bolanos was chosen Miss Water 2003, and Poland's Marta Matyjasik was Miss Fire 2003.[10] The pageant was hosted by
Television show host Ariel Ureta. The candidates were initially presented at the poolside of
Hotel Intercontinental Manila in
Makati on October 22, 2003.[11]
Beauty for a Cause Award was awarded to
Vida Samadzai the first Afghan woman to compete in an international beauty pageant in almost three decades, for helping found a US-based women's charity that seeks to raise awareness of women's rights and education in Afghanistan by "symbolizing the newfound confidence, courage and spirit of today’s women and representing the victory of women’s rights and various social, personal and religious struggles".[12][13]
Final Question in Miss Earth 2003: "At the end of each rainbow, so the saying goes, is a pot of gold. As a woman of the earth, instead of a pot of gold, what else would you rather find at the end of the rainbow?"
Winning Answer of Miss Earth 2003: "Honestly, there are things that are much more important than gold. For me personally, the most important is the sentiments of the people. To give love and smile to a human being, to be able to give them a hand when needed, to give help to someone who needs your presence, and also God is always with us which is very important. The first thing I think when I open my eyes is heaven. When we have Him in our hearts and mind, everything is better. And I can see people how they really are inside, not if they have gold or not. For me the rainbow means life, God and happiness." -
Dania Prince, represented Honduras.[14][15]
Judges
The following is the list of the nine-member board of judges of Miss Earth 2003:[14]
Philadelphia Daily News: Online News.
Uh oh! Miss Afghanistan broke the law?. Published on November 9, 2003. November 10, 2003. Retrieved December 27, 2009
^New York Times, Online News (2003-10-30).
"Anti-Pageant Judges". New York Times. Retrieved 2009-12-27.
^West, Donald (2007-12-18).
"Miss Earth History". Pageantopolis. Archived from the original on 2007-12-16. Retrieved 2008-01-07.{{
cite news}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (
link)
^Palmero, Paul (2005-06-18).
"Pageant History". Pageant Almanac. Archived from the original on 2008-12-12. Retrieved 2008-01-07.{{
cite news}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (
link)
^Winters, Rebecca (2003-11-10).
"Bod For A Burqa?". TIME Magazine. Archived from
the original on January 20, 2011. Retrieved 2009-12-27.